Slicing machines, cutting stations therefor, and methods of use

Abstract

Cutting stations for slicing machines and slicing machines equipped therewith. Such a cutting station includes a knife holder, a strip-cut knife supported on the knife holder, and a clamp that clamps the knife to the knife holder. The strip-cut knife has a cutting edge that protrudes from a leading edge of the knife holder and tab blades that are oriented perpendicular to the cutting edge. A gate is disposed in proximity of the knife holder and the cutting edge of the strip-cut knife. The gate has a trailing end that, with the cutting edge of strip-cut knife, defines a gate opening that determines the thickness of a slice produced by the cutting station. The trailing end of the gate has gate slots defined therein in which the tab blades are received.

1 . A cutting station for a slicing machine, the cutting station comprising:
 a knife holder having a surface and a leading edge;   a strip-cut knife supported on the surface of the knife holder, the strip-cut knife having a cutting edge that protrudes from the leading edge of the knife holder and tab blades that are oriented perpendicular to the cutting edge of the strip-cut knife;   a clamp arranged relative to the knife holder and knife to clamp the knife to the knife holder, the clamp having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a knife-engaging portion adjacent the leading edge of the clamp, and a base portion adjacent the trailing edge of the clamp, at least part of the knife-engaging portion having a shape complementary to the knife;   a gate disposed in proximity of the knife holder and the cutting edge of the strip-cut knife, the gate having a trailing end that, with the cutting edge of strip-cut knife, defines a gate opening that determines the thickness of a slice produced by the cutting station, the trailing end of the gate having gate slots defined therein in which the tab blades are received; and   means for applying a clamping load to the clamp to secure the knife to the knife holder.   
     
     
         2 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the gate slots are perpendicular to the cutting edge of the strip-cut knife, parallel to the tab blades, and wider than the thicknesses of the tab blades received therein. 
     
     
         3 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the trailing end of the gate tapers in thickness toward a distal edge of the gate and the gate slots are defined within at least a distal portion of the trailing end. 
     
     
         4 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the knife-engaging portion of the clamp comprises slots in which the tab blades of the strip-cut knife are received. 
     
     
         5 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the means for applying the clamping load to the clamp comprises a cam rod, the cam rod being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof, the cam rod having a longitudinal length, a camming surface that engages the base portion of the clamp when the cam rod is rotated to a clamping position to force the clamp into engagement with the knife and clamp the knife against the knife holder, the cam rod having a radial concavity that has a longitudinal length and defines a recessed surface spanning at least a portion of the longitudinal length of the cam rod, the radial concavity being sized to accommodate the base portion of the clamp, the width of the base portion being less than the longitudinal length of the radial concavity such that the base portion of the clamp is loosely received within the radial concavity when the cam rod is rotated so that the radial concavity faces the clamp in an open position thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The cutting station of  claim 5 , wherein the strip-cut knife is removable from and installable in the cutting station when the cam rod is rotated to the open position. 
     
     
         7 . The cutting station of  claim 6 , wherein the clamp and the knife are removable together from and installable together in the cutting station when the cam rod is rotated to the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the strip-cut knife is an assembly that comprises a slicing knife that defines the cutting edge, and a second knife that has a flat base and individual tab blades that are oriented roughly perpendicular to the base, the slicing knife and the second knife being assembled so that the tab blades are oriented perpendicular to the cutting edge of the slicing knife to produce strip-cut products. 
     
     
         9 . The cutting station of  claim 1 , wherein the strip-cut knife is a one-piece knife in which the tab blades and the cutting edge are formed on a unitary knife. 
     
     
         10 . A slicing machine equipped with the cutting station of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating the slicing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the tab blades received in the gate slots of the gate promote complete strip cuts in food products that are difficult to cut into strips at high production rates.